December Notices
Howdy Ranelights.
A season for kindness & connection...
As we head into December, let’s continue looking out for one another, staying safe on our runs and finding the right balance between training hard and the necessary rest and recovery.
The shorter days, colder weather and festive pressures can test even the hardiest of us, so keep checking in on each other — and yourselves — as we navigate the season together.
Our final priority event of 2025 is the Middlesex XC Championships on Saturday 13 December in Uxbridge. Although entries have now closed, your support on the day would still mean a great deal.
Looking ahead to the new year, we’re excited to have not one but two priority fixtures to kick things off: the 3rd Surrey League on 10 January, and our mob match against Blackheath Harriers on 17 January. More details will follow soon.
In the meantime — whether you’re joining training sessions, social runs or parkruns — remember that our club is always here for you; ready to support, encourage and celebrate every step you take.
PRIORITY dates
FIXTURES
▪️Sat 13 Dec Middlesex XC Champs @ Hillingdon Hill Farm
▪️Sat 10 Jan Surrey XC League #3 @ Mitcham Common (Women) and Oxshott (Men). Look out for Teamer entries.
▪️Sat 17 Jan Mob Match vs Blackheath @ Richmond Park. Sign up on the day.
SOCIALS
▪️Thurs 11 Dec Christmas Curry Night at The Indian Gymkhana Club from 8pm after Osterley track. All welcome whether training or not.
▪️Sun 28 Dec Ranelagh Sunday Coffee Club 8 - 11am. Kick start (or end!) your Sunday long runs with free coffee, warm croissants & great company. All welcome.
REMINDERS
▪️Volunteer: Volunteers are the heart of our club so why not make 2026 your volunteering year, and help keep Ranelagh running smoothly! Key dates coming soon to help you plan ahead.
▪️HELP!: Are you a budding content creator/social media guru able to help with Ranelagh comms? We need you - contact Ed Perry or Narissa Vox via WhatsApp Community.
COMING UP
FIXTURES
▪️Sat 20 Dec South of the Thames Championships @ Wimbledon Common
▪️Sun 4 Jan Surrey XC Champs @ Denbies
▪️Sat 10 Jan Surrey XC League #3 @ Mitcham Common (Women) and Oxshott (Men)
▪️Sat 17 Jan Mob Match vs Blackheath @ Richmond Park
For the latest updates, go to https://ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/fixtures ⬅️
SOcial / community
▪️Sunday 11 Jan: 9am Richmond Park social run with Bearcats; followed by coffee & croissant after. All welcome (including Serpies). Further details to follow.
▪️Friday Jan/Feb TBC: Ranelagh Quiz Night. Details soon.
▪️Fri 13 Mar: The Baker Cup Awards Night. Save the date. Details soon.
Ranelagh Christmas Party
A joyful celebration of everything that makes our club special: community, friendship, inclusivity and a whole lot of festive fun
On an evening overflowing with festive cheer and club spirit, more than 60 members — including those joining for drinks — gathered at All Bar One, Richmond on 6 December.
Sequins, sparkle and shine lit up the venue as everyone swapped running kit for glamorous partywear - it was wonderful to see everyone make such an effort.
This wasn’t just another date on the calendar; it was the social highlight of 2025. The decorations were nothing short of magical, transforming the area into a warm, festive space; and the mood was cheerful and sociable, with much laughter and conversation.
After the mains, the evening’s entertainment continued with the End of Year Awards presentation; before concluding with a rousing and spirited sing/shout-a-long of “The 12 Days of Ranelagh”, led by our Club President, Maia Rushby.
A huge thank you to our amazing Social Secretaries, Hadi Khatamizadeh and Sue Camp, as well as the awards team of Ed Perry, Rebecca Bissell, Neil Rae and Shaun Griffith.
Their dedication and hard work brought the whole night together; and their creativity and effort ensured the party was a truly special occasion.
Thank you to everyone who came along — whether for dinner, drinks, or just to be part of the festivities. The evening was a wonderful celebration of the friendships, camaraderie and community that make our club what it is.
end of year awards
Shout out to everyone who joined us at the Christmas party to celebrate the very best of Ranelagh at our inaugural End of Year Club Awards. It was a fantastic opportunity to recognise the members who embody the spirit, dedication, and camaraderie that make our club so special.
A huge congratulations to this year’s shortlisted nominees - your performances, team spirit, and contributions throughout the year truly embodies our club’s avlues.
Thank you once again to everyone who nominated and voted to make this celebration possible. And of course, a huge well-done to all of our winners — your dedication continues to inspire our entire Ranelagh community.
Our 2025 winners are:
Best Newcomer: Gareth Hopkins
Most Improved Runner: Claire Warner
Best Team Player: Mark Herbert
Ever Present: Sally Bamford
Rising Star: Cordelia Perry
Yellow Shorts: Dave Lawley
Lost in Richmond Park: Hadi Khatazimadeh
Unsung Hero: Gavin Hillhouse
Member of the Year: Narissa Vox
Performance roundup
What a massively busy month it’s been for performances and despite the colder, wetter conditions, there have been many stand out achievements.
Particularly impressive have been our ladies with Suzy Whatmough finishing 21st at the Southern Intercounties, Clare Fowler 2nd VW40 at the Runaway Racing 10k, Edel McKeever taking 1st VW50 at the Hurtwood 50K, and Rebecca Bissell, Sally Minchella, and Sarah Carnworth smashing out strong runs at Valencia Marathon — with PBs for Rebecca and Sally.
Our men have been keeping up too: young Liam Esguevillas claimed the U14 title at the Richmond Borough XC, Jack Eggington placed 20th in the Welsh Inter-Counties, and Jordan Robertson and Ignatius Li both ran impressive times at the Florence Marathon. Kudos too to Richard Ritchley and Charlie Shelbourne for standout marathon performances at Valencia.
It’s not just running where our club shines. At the recent London HYROX Championships, there were outstanding performances from Becca Ireland and Kelly Thomas, while Ruth Gledhill and partner Camilla didn’t just win their age group — they set a new world record! Shout out too to Bruce McLaren who smashed his Hyrox challenge, proving that he is indeed a man of many talents.
▪️Latest roundup of the Women’s achievements @ The Blue Wave >
▪️Latest roundup of the Men’s achievements @ The Blue & Amber >
Social Update
13 March: Save the date for the Baker Cup Awards - our trophy prize-giving night.
At Ranelagh Harriers, running is only half the story. Yes, we train hard, chase goals, and celebrate incredible performances — but the real magic comes from the friendships, encouragement, and sense of belonging that make our club feel like home.
Members join for all sorts of reasons, but they end up staying - for decades - because of our community. Our social side isn’t an add-on - it’s the heart of who we are.
This past year, we’ve done so much together — not just in training, racing, and performing, but socially too. From post-run coffees to club social nights, celebrations, and shared milestones, our community spirit has shone just as brightly as our running achievements.
And we’re only getting started - we’re incredibly excited to build on that energy in 2026.
We have more Tuesday after-training socials planned, a quiz night in the works plus more, including our main Ranelagh prizegiving night - the Baker Cup Awards Night on 13 March - where all our trophies are lined up and presented to our winners.
London marathon
We received two club places for the 2026 London Marathon on 26 April which were allocated by a drawn ballot.
Open to members who had either taken part in at least three Ranelagh races during the year or volunteered at a minimum of three events; to ensure fairness, applicants had to meet two further conditions: they had not run the London Marathon in the past five years, and had not achieved a Champs or Good For Age time in that period.
In total, 9 members met the criteria and their names were put into a hat and drawn at the Ranelagh Christmas party. Congratulations to our lucky winners - Josh Charkin and Colette Doran - we wish you all the best for your training ahead.
Training
Not only is it getting darker - it’s also getting colder!
So a reminder to please wear hi-vis or reflective clothing at all times — not just during training, but also when travelling to and from the clubhouse or track. Plus don’t forget your lights or head/chest torches - staying visible is key to staying safe.
For Tuesdays’ sessions, please meet at our clubhouse for 7pm.
Don’t miss out on our annual Christmas Cracker Relay on Tuesday 16 December at Richmond Green. Racing optional, fun mandatory - the winning team is the one that keeps their cracker-baton in one piece (or the one with the cutest child on the team). Finish with drinks at The Cricketers.
For Thursdays’ track, please meet at Osterley track for 7.30pm.
Our track sessions are perfect for all levels, helping build speed endurance in a supportive, social atmosphere where everyone trains together and encourages each other. Plus, you can tailor the session to your pace, which is great if you’re returning from injury.
Don’t miss this Thursday’s Christmas Curry Night at the Gymkhana Club after. All welcome, whether you’ve trained or not!
Notices
Club
1️⃣ Share: Your running related celebrations & achievements in our ‘General Club Chat’ group. We love seeing what you get up to!
2️⃣ Kit: The winter kit order will be delivered VERY soon - thank you for your patience. In the meantime, the kit shop is open again with selected items and sizes in stock. All queries, please contact our Kit Secretary, Agnes Nagy via WhatsApp Community, or email coordinator@ranelagh-harriers.co.uk
3️⃣ Club Subs: 2025/2026 subs are due. Payments to Ranelagh Harriers | HSBC | 40-23-29 | 81109847. For other payment options, head to www.ranelagh-harriers.co.uk/join-info
4️⃣ Green Belt Relay 2026: To join the waitlist, please email ranelaghgbr@gmail.com. Then join the Greenbelt Relay Group (via WhatsApp Community) for updates and team chat.
Community
1️⃣ River Thames Boat Project: Are seeking local runners to fundraise for them in the Thames Meander Spring on 8 March. Entry fees covered + minimum target of £150 per participant. For details, email info@thamesboatproject.org
2️⃣ Thames Towpath 10: This popular 10 miler will return on Sunday 12 April, following the same fast, flat and scenic Thames-side route. Entries opening soon. For now, save the date & see https://www.west4harriers.com/thames-towpath-10-mile-2025/ for general info.
3️⃣ Rape Crisis South London: Are looking for local runners to fundraise in support of their vital services. Raise £100 & get a free t-shirt. Details @ www.rapecrisissouthlondon.org/fundraise >
